22.8.16

Nigeria will strengthen partnership with Islamic Bank, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday
said the Federal Government will deepen its partnership with the Islamic
Development Bank (IDB) to fund critical projects in health, water and
the infrastructure sector.
He made the remark while receiving, Dr. Ali Madani, the President of the IDB Group at the State House, Abuja.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and
Publicity, Garba Shehu, President Buhari also commended the bank for
supporting several developmental projects across the country.
He acknowledged that the bank has funded several people-oriented
projects in Osun, Kaduna, Jigawa, Niger, Katsina, Kano and Ebonyi
states, demonstrating its “soft spot and robust support’’ for Nigeria.
‘‘We can’t thank you enough for the height you have achieved for the
bank in 41 years. Now that you are about to retire, we thank you for the
quality leadership which the world has recognized,’’ the President
said.
Buhari also expressed appreciation to the IDB Group and other
countries for extending their assistance to Internally Displaced Persons
in the North-East.
The President assured the visiting IDB chief that Nigeria, a major
financier of the bank, will meet all its obligations to the development
institution within the shortest time possible.
The President highlighted efforts of the current administration at
diversifying the economy with emphasis on agriculture and expressed
strong optimism that Nigeria will achieve self-sufficiency in rice and
sugar; and export both commodities in the next three years.
In his remarks, Dr Madani congratulated President Buhari on the positive outcomes of the war against corruption and terrorism.
He said the bank is ready to mobilize resources from Arab fund for
developmental initiatives of the Nigerian government and the private
sector, particularly on agriculture.